"I'm sorry, but we only have one room available, and it has a queen bed," said the receptionist.
Selena glanced quickly at Tara, feeling a sudden pang of discomfort. Was this really a coincidence? It seemed a little too convenient that all rooms were taken the moment Tara arrived.
Tara looked back at her, a soft warmth in her gaze, but her expression stayed composed. She gave a slight smile. "Looks like it's just the one room left, Selena. I hope you don't mind sharing with me."
The receptionist's eyes lingered on them, and Selena felt a faint blush creep into her cheeks. "Yes, let's just get one room then. It's late," she said, trying to defuse the moment with practicality.
The elevator doors closed, and as they ascended, a certain tension filled the quiet space. Standing just behind Tara, Selena found herself studying her, noticing the small changes time had left. Tara's figure was still as familiar as she remembered, her posture upright and graceful, but there was a new strength to her, an intensity that had grown over the years. A cuff of her sleeve had rolled up, revealing her wrist, slender and pale, and of course, that ring—the simple, striking band on her left hand.
Selena's gaze lingered just long enough that Tara seemed to notice, glancing back briefly, her lips curving up with a barely-there smirk before looking away again, leaving Selena to wonder if she had imagined it.
When they reached their floor, Tara led her to the room, swiping the keycard and setting her bag down on the chair near the door before moving swiftly to the window. Selena, closing the door, heard a sudden fit of coughing behind her.
The drive with the windows cracked open had let in the frigid night air, snow swirling with each turn. Now, suddenly enveloped in the room's warmth, Tara's throat reacted to the temperature shift with a raw, relentless tickle.
Selena instinctively reached out, placing a hand gently on her back, patting softly as Tara's coughing slowly subsided. Once Tara had quieted, Selena crossed to the water heater, filled a glass, and held it out to her. "Here. This might help."
Tara looked at the slender hand holding the glass and paused, a little taken aback, before she accepted it. Her voice was raspy. "Thank you."
Tara raised her head, and their eyes met. Her face was still a little flushed from coughing, her eyes faintly reddened. Against her pale skin, it looked almost like she'd been crying, and the effect was somehow heart-wrenching. Selena fought the urge to reach out to her, remembering their past and the reasons that kept them apart, including that ring now resting on Tara's finger.
With a glance, Selena noted the single queen bed. She wondered if maintaining boundaries here would prove difficult.
A quick survey of the room showed a single chair by the window that could offer a makeshift resting spot, though it wouldn't be comfortable. Tara paid for the room, and as a considerate host and one in need of rest, the bed was clearly hers for the night.
"You're catching a cold, it seems," Selena commented, taking the empty glass from her.
Tara, her voice still rough from coughing, gave a faint smile. "Getting older, I suppose," she said lightly. "My immune system just isn't what it used to be."
For a moment, the old Tara peeked through her words, her smile teasing and light, bringing a sudden wave of nostalgia. Selena looked away, redirecting the conversation. "Are you planning to sleep soon?"
Tara shook her head, her gaze steady. "I think I'll take a hot shower first."
A little more color had returned to her face, and her expression was relaxed, almost serene. Selena felt her heart give a little jolt, forcing herself to lower her eyes. "Sure."
Without another word, Tara headed toward the bathroom, slipping off her ring and placing it gently on the bedside table before moving to unbutton her coat and hang it by the door. Her hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders, and she moved with the same quiet grace Selena remembered. She wore a collared shirt under her coat, leaving the top button undone, revealing a delicate collarbone. The sight caught Selena off guard, and she stood frozen for a moment, mesmerized.
Feeling Tara's gaze on her, Selena looked up, startled, only to catch Tara's amused expression, like a secret she'd uncovered. A faint blush warmed Selena's cheeks.
"Selena," Tara said, her voice tinged with mirth. "I'm just going to take a quick shower."
As she disappeared into the bathroom, Selena let out a shaky breath, her face flushed. She focused on the carpeted floor, trying to steady herself, hands twisting nervously.
Minutes passed, and Tara re-emerged, wrapped in a thick, white hotel robe, her damp hair falling around her shoulders. The robe hung loosely on her frame, exposing a glimpse of her collarbone and a faint pink tattoo in the shape of a butterfly just above it. The sight was unexpectedly arresting. Water droplets clung to her skin, catching the dim light like tiny jewels. As Tara moved, the butterfly tattoo seemed almost alive, delicate wings shifting with each breath.
Selena watched, captivated.
"Selena?" Tara's voice was low, filled with soft amusement. "See something you like?"
Flustered, Selena accidentally knocked the magazine off the nightstand, sending Tara's ring clattering to the floor, rolling briefly before slipping under the bed.
"Oh, no—sorry! I'll get it," Selena stammered, dropping to her knees to search under the bed.
"It's fine," Tara's voice was calm, her hand gently lifting Selena to her feet. But Selena's eyes had filled with a slight moisture, and she looked up, an apology lingering in her gaze.
"I…I'll find it," she stammered, her voice soft. "It's…your wedding ring, isn't it?"
Tara's lips held a faint, bemused smile, her voice gentle. "Let me find it. Don't worry."
Selena, stepping aside, watched Tara kneel down, her heart heavy with a realization. Tara didn't contradict her assumption about the ring. In that silence, Selena felt an unfamiliar ache. The finality of her own choices settled around her, deep and inescapable.
"Tara…" she began, but just then, Tara stood up, the ring held in her hand. She held it out, light glinting off the diamond as she returned it to Selena's palm.
"Would you mind putting it back on for me, Selena?" Tara's tone was soft, her hand extended.
Selena hesitated, but Tara waited patiently, unwavering, her face calm.
Slowly, Selena took Tara's hand, noting the warmth in her fingers and the faint network of veins visible under her skin. Her hand was slender and long, and Selena's fingers trembled as she slid the ring back onto Tara's finger. For a brief moment, she allowed herself to imagine this gesture as her own, an intimate act reserved for a life they could have shared.
Once in place, the ring sparkled, its diamond catching the light. Tara curled her fingers slightly, feeling the cool metal settle against her skin, her hand lingering in Selena's grasp. There was a tenderness in Selena's voice when she spoke. "It's…really beautiful."
Tara's reply was soft, laughter hidden in her words. "Thank you, Selena, but you're mistaken about one thing."
Selena looked up, her eyes widening as Tara held her gaze.
"I'm not married. This isn't a wedding ring."
In that moment, Selena's eyes lit up, though she seemed barely aware of it herself. "You're not married?" she echoed.